DARPA is an interesting and innovative agency, not only because it pushes the science and technology envelopes, providing funding, purpose, and goals to R&D houses looking to create next-gen technology, but also because its talents are unparalleled when it comes to acronyms.

Take, for instance, the agency's two newest initiatives: Biochronicity and Temporal Mechanisms Arising in Nature, and Robustness of Biologically-Inspired Networks. That's right: BaTMAN and RoBIN.

This dynamic duo of programs aims to turn basic biology into a tool for better situational awareness and decision-making. Put in DARPA's own words, BaTMAN would strive to "develop an understanding of the relationship between biological systems and the spatial-temporal universe through the application of advanced principles from the physical sciences," while RoBIN will seek to "apply the critical control features of biological networks to build unique models for adaptable networks, and create a dynamic biologically-inspired network of scientists and other experts for crisis response and complex decision support."